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Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Anand draws seventh game; Carlsen remains two points ahead

Anand draws seventh game; Carlsen remains two points ahead

Last Updated: Monday, November 18, 2013, 18:28

Chennai:
Defending champion Viswanathan Anand could not break through the
defenses of challenger Magnus Carlsen and had to be content with a draw
in the seventh game of the World Chess Championship here on Monday.

It
turned out to be another tame affair after two back-to-back losses for
Anand as Carlsen gave nothing away in yet another closed Berlin defense
as black, while the Indian went for an early deviation from previous
games.

With just five games to go in the 12-game match, Carlsen
retains his two point lead with the scoreline now reading 4.5-2.5 in
favour of the Norwegian. The clock is now ticking away for Anand as the
Indian needs at least two victories in the next five games to level
scores.

Carlsen`s Berlin defense has already given too many
headaches to team Anand and today it was no different. No matter what
approach Anand chooses, the Norwegian is always spot on in getting
exactly the kind of positions he likes.

Anand went for a knight
capture on the fifth move to get a position akin to the Ruy Lopez
exchange. The better pawn structure is guaranteed to white in these
setups but black gets sufficient counter play with the nature of the
position remaining close.

Anand probably wanted to avoid serious
complications he has been facing in the endgames in the last two games
and hence a better structure guaranteed him level endgames should they
arise.

By move 10, two minor pieces had changed hands giving the
impression that Anand probably had a slight pull but not much to carry
on. Carlsen, to his credit, yet again came with right manoeuvres to
ensure that the position always remained close to equal.

On move
15, Anand pushed his king rook pawn to open up one file on the king side
but his plan boomeranged as Carlsen, after temporarily allowing a foray
on the seventh rank for the white rook, neutralized the optical
initiative with timely exchanges.

Both rooks and another minor
piece was off the board almost in a blitz and all that remained was a
queen and knight endgame with no chances for either side.

Anand changed a couple of more pawns and the draw was agreed to in just 32 moves vide repetition.

"I thought I will be able to get something but I could not," Anand said in the post-match conference.

In
the remaining five games now Carlsen will get to play three white`s
while Anand has just two white games remaining. The eighth game will be
played tomorrow.
PTI ------------------- ZEENEWS.com